Stalking and domestic violence: Things to know

by | Jul 18, 2017 | blog, Firm News

It doesn’t matter who you are, a domestic violence charge has a way of turning your life upside down.

While there is no guarantee that a charge will lead to a conviction, this doesn’t make your life any easier for the time being. You’ll need to learn more about the charges, as well as the defense strategy you can use to your advantage.

In many cases, domestic violence is accompanied by stalking. This typically involves one or more of the following:

  • Repeated harassment, such as making phone calls or sending emails
  • Following a person, such as when they are in public
  • Appearing at a person’s place of work or home without permission
  • Vandalizing a person’s property

Along with the above, stalking can include many other behaviors that make a person feel unsafe and uncomfortable.

As you can imagine, what one person considers stalking another person may consider harmless. This is why you need to learn more about your legal rights.

The three most common forms of stalking include:

  • Obsessional, which is when a person stalks somebody they know.
  • Love obsessional, which involves a person stalking somebody they believe they are in love with.
  • Erotomania, which is when a person stalks a celebrity or other public figure.

Domestic violence stalking typically fits into the first category.

The punishment for stalking and/or domestic violence depends on many factors, including the type, severity and state in which the action took place.

If you are charged with this type of crime, it’s time to turn your attention to your defense strategy. You may consider what you are doing harmless, but the other person could take your acts seriously and attempt to get you in trouble with the law.

There is no guarantee that a charge of stalking or domestic violence will result in a serious punishment, such as a restraining order or time in jail. Your goal is to understand the charges, review what happened in the past, and take steps that will allow you to move on with your life without any serious consequences.

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